Our First OAP Pitstop - Cafe Juanita

March 12, 2011

Of the many restos we picked up from OAP, Cafe Juanita was the first one we were scheduled to visit. I am not the best navigator ever, so it took us a while even in broad noon time daylight to find this little gem in the back streets of Kapitolyo, Pasig.

Cafe Juanita Main Dining and Veranda

While inching along slowly and keeping our eyes peeled for the restaurant, we stopped our little toy car after we saw the "Cafe Juanita" sign only to realize that this was the old venue. Not to fear though, the guard quickly and politely points out the new venue which is just around the corner.

Sarimanok

Once at the "new" Cafe Juanita, we worried as the place was packed. The parking space allowed for approximately 8-10 cars triple parked so we were glad we had dumped our car nearer the old venue, a short walk away. If you are coming with a gang, I suggest car pooling and bringing a driver so you don't have to worry about parking.

At the entrance, I was already falling in love with the place. Mainly for how kitschy and eclectic it was. The minute I walked through that door, it was like being transported into a different world. From the hustle and bustle of the street where jeepneys, tricycles, and pedestrians were milling about and blocky concrete buildings tried to offer shade, the inside of Cafe Juanita felt like a wonderland. The collection of antiques, sarimanok idols, colorful scarves, umbrellas, fairy lights, and the grand piano just communicated old world whimsy with a hint of odd Lady Gaga glamor. If the restaurant were a color, I'd say it looked like a pretty and mysterious red to me.

Mezzanine Canopy

It was every photographer's dream. So many scenes, so many subjects, and so many ways you can play with the place's soft light.

Enough about the place though! The menu was not overly extensive, but there was definitely enough to chew on. While you'll find the odd pick here and there, it was a mostly Filipino menu with all the greats. For our lunch, PIC and I decided on Lengua, Dinuguan, Sinigang sa Miso, Stuffed Crab, and rice. It sounds like a lot, but the portions are mostly good for two people only so we more than managed.

Overall the food was good, but we found the service a bit wanting. The wait staff, almost all men, were kind and nice but lacked polish. For a place aiming for a more chic image, it would be better if the service reflected the same pizazz. Their less than careful way of serving would see soup sloshed over the side, and clattering dinnerware more reminiscent of a canteen. Don't get me wrong, I am not overly picky, just stating that service should always mirror the level at which a restaurant is being positioned. While we enjoyed ourselves aesthetically and gastronomically, the service left the whole experience a bit wanting.

After a hearty lunch, I had my usual coffee fix in the form of Batangas coffee and PIC had his halo-halo. Total damage was around PHP 2k for the two of us - pretty reasonable considering we had a good sampling and our tummies were happy.